The Mets will try once again to take down the series against the Braves on Thursday night, sending Jon Niese (7-9, 3.47) against Mike Minor (5-8, 4.90).

In his last start Niese tossed his third consecutive quality start in the Mets’ 6-2 defeat at Dodger Stadium, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four over 6.2 innings of work. It was Niese’s ninth loss of the season.

The Mets have hit a home run in a season-high eight straight games, the longest streak since they opened the 2013 season (April 1-16) with a home run in 12 straight games. The Mets have 13 home runs during the current streak.

Juan Lagares is hitting .500 (9-18) over a five-game hitting streak, with multiple hits in four of the five contests. He has hit two home runs in those five games and has an RBI in four straight games (seven total), tied for the longest streak of his career.

In the first game of the series, the Mets won 3-2, last night, the Braves won 3-2. Today Jon Niese looks to bring the Mets back on the winning path. On the season he is 7-9 over 24 games and 148.0 innings with a 3.47 ERA. In his last three games he has pitched 19.2 innings with a 2-1 record while posting a 3.20 ERA. In one start against the Braves this year, he allowed 1 ER over 6.0 innings while walking 3 and striking out 7. The Braves have the following numbers against Jon:

Freeman 9-30, 2 2B, 2 HR

Heyward 9-24, 2 2B, 2 HR

J Upton 9-17, 2B

C Johnson 4-15, 2 2B

Simmons 5-13, 2B

BJ Upton 1-9, 5 K

Mike Minor gets the start for the Braves. On the season he is 5-8 over 20 games and 119.1 innings with an ERA of 4.90. In his last three starts he is 1-1 over 21.1 innings with a 2.53 ERA while striking out 19 batters. In two starts against the Mets this year he allowed 6 ER over 11.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Mike:

My name is Elliot and I’ve been writing the Game Preview posts at MMO since 2008. I am excited to be back sharing my thoughts with you. When I’m not watching the Mets, I’m a Physics Teacher in Newark, NJ and writing about the Mets at 213 Miles From Shea. LGM!